Monitoring fine dust – by bike

High-precision sensors are often the standard in research, but costs are significant. And from the lab to the real world, high-precision sensors are not necessarily the best solution: the accuracy of the data collected may be too exact than necessary for their actual use, causing costs to rise out of proportion.

A clear example is represented by environmental monitoring. In our cities, monitoring refers to the collection of data on air quality - such as the presence of fine dust and nitrogen oxides - temperature, humidity and other parameters. In short, it is a real-time snapshot of the city's environment, for the use and consumption of administrations and inhabitants.

Environmental monitoring in cities is usually carried out by means of a small number of fixed monitoring stations, which use particularly sophisticated and expensive sensor technology. The downside is that the information collected in this way only covers certain areas of the city.

In order to make data collection more comprehensive and to map different districts in greater detail, hybrid solutions that use low-cost sensors in addition to expensive high-end sensors are being sought.

Bicycles could offer further help. A single sensor on the move - placed on a bicycle - would make monitoring even more efficient, extensive and cost-effective.

The first prototype, designed by Cyclopolis, worked via Wi-Fi. However, the researchers at the Center for Sensing Solutions opted for the LoRaWAN instead – a technology which enables long-distance transmission with very little power.

The Center has been experimenting with this technology for some years now and in 2020, they installed an experimental LoRaWAN transmission network in NOItechpark, Bolzano's technology park, which is available to companies based in the park for sensor testing and services relating to the Internet of Things.